Door holding device



Get. 4, 1932. L. A. BITTORF 1,880,712

DOOR HOLDING DEVICE Filed Dec. 18, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Pay Oct. 4,1932. L. A. BITTORF fi fi DOOR HOLDING DEVICE Filed Dec. 18, 1950 sSheet-$heet 2 Mil-(Vi Oct. 4, 1932- I A, BlTTORF 1,880,712

DOOR HOLDING DEVICE Filed Dec. 18. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 JZQ'E MZZZW@0216; .2 5am? Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT @FFHQE v LOUISA. BITTORF, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO NATIONAL MANUFACTURINGCOMPANY, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0E ILLINOIS noon HOLDINGnnvron' Application filed Decem ber 18, 1930. Serial No. 503,166.

My invention relates to door-holding devices of that general typeadapted to latch and retain swinging doors, and the like, inpredetermined open position preventing ac-.

cidenta-l closing of the same. While my in vention is adapted to variouskinds of doors of this character, it is well suited for garage, orsimilar, doors.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive device of the foregoing character which is positive inaction and which is adapted to automatie cally secure and hold aswinging door against closing due to any jar, force or shock when thedoor has been moved to a predetermined open position, but which providesfor ready and convenient release of the door when it is desired to closethe same.

Another object is to provide a strong and durable door holding devicewhich includes an arm swingably carried by the door and movable througha keeper device stationarily supported by the door frame, which keeperdevice embodies latch means engageable with the arm for holding the doorin its open position; and the latch means is releasable by means carriedby the swinging arm and conveniently located for actuation for closingof the door.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this descriptionprogresses and by reference to the drawings wherein,

Figure 1 is a partial elevational view of a door structure (the upperportion cut away) embodying my invention, the parts of such structurebeing shown in door-closed position;

Fig. 2 is a View of the structure of Fig. 1 taken substantially at theposition indicated by line 22 of Fig. 1, and showing the door and thedoor holder part in full lines in their open position and in dottedlines in their closed position;

Fig. 3'is an enlarged side elevational view of the outer or free end ofthe door holding arm;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the keeper deviceand the outer or free end of the door holding arm, and showing the partsin their latched position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4: except showing the parts in anunlatched position; Fig. 6 is a view taken substantially on line 66 ofFig. 4;

. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 7-"? ofFig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 4: but showing amodified form of structure embodying my invention;

Fig. 9 is a section taken substantially on line H 9-9 of Fig. 8; c

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section through another modified form ofkeeper embodying my'i nvention, which view is'taken' substantially on.line 1010 of Fig. 11;

F ig. 11 is a rear elevational view ofthe structure shown in Fig. 10;and

Fig. 12 is a horizontal section taken sub stantially on line 1212 ofFig. 11.

It will be understood that while I have chosen to illustrate myinvention in connection with the structure shown in the drawings, I donot wish to be limited to the same since it is obvious that my inventionhas utility inany installation where it isdesired to automatically latchthe swinging member in a predetermined open position and incondition forready and convenient release of the latch when it is desired to closethe swinglng member.

, Referring particularly to the form shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive,the doorway is formed by top and side frame members 20, 21. Doors 22, 22are swingably mounted upon the side frame members 21 by means of hinges23 (only one shown). These doors are ofatype well adapted for garagesand my invention provides the following means for latching and holdingthe doors in open position to avoid closing of the gusts of wind, jars,shocks, etc., when a vehicle is being moved into or removed from thegarage through its doorway.

Referring to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, an arm 24 ismounted for horizontal swinging movement on a bracket 25 which issecured to the inner surface of the door 22. This arm is of invertedU-shape in cross section, and it pivotally supports (as at 26) withinits U-section an unlatching bar same by drafts,

27 which is swingable about the pivot 26 by means of a chain 28 toproject its outer end 27 upwardly through a longitudinal, notchedopening 24 in the top part of the arm just inwardly of the'abutmentmember 29. This abutment member 29 is held between ;the U-sides of thearm at its outer end by means of rivets, or the like, 30' and it isprovided at its bottom with a shelf-like extension 29 which is adaptedto be engaged by the flat-bottom end portion 27 b of the unlatching bar27 to limit the downward or released position of such bar.

The arm 24 is supported and guided by a keeper 31 the vertical web 31 ofwhich has an opening 32 through which the arm slidably passes. Thehorizontal web 31 of this keeper is secured to the top frame member 20,preferably, at the position illustrated in Fig. 1, and the location ofthis keeper is such that when the door is fully opened, the flat side 29of the stop abutment 29 seats flat against the rear side of the keeperabove the keeper opening 32, thus limiting the opening movement of thedoor. 7

The door is automatically latched in its full open position by a latchplate 33 which is approximately the same size and shape as the verticalweb 31 of the keeper; and this plate has an opening 34 therein ofsubstantially the same size as the keeperopening 32 and through whichthe arm 24 also passes. This latch member is reciprocably mounted on thevertical keeper web by means of a plurality of vertically-extendingslots 35 through which headed pins or rivets 36 (carried by the keeper31) project. This latch plate is movable with suflicient freedom that italways tends to fall downwardly by gravity to the latching positionshown in Figs. 4

and 6.

When the door is in its closed position (Fig. 1) the upper surface ofsuch arm holds the latch plate 33 elevated. The outer end of the doorarm 24 along the opening 24 is gradually curved upward as at 24 and asubstantially deep latch notch is provided in the arm immediately inwardof the abutment 29 between the latter and the curved wall 24 By curvingthe upper side of the bar as at 24', the height of the arm at that point(with reference to Fi 4) closely approaches the height of the Ireeperopemng; and as the arm 24, by movement of the door,

approaches its open position the latch plate 33 is raised tosubstantially its uppermost position and finally drops by gravitydownward into the latch notch holding the parts securely fixed togetherin a door-open position (Figs. 4 and 6). By employing a latch plate ofthe structure shown and described, the keeper serves as a substantialbackground support for the latch member, rendering the latch and keeperas a whole capable of withstanding all shocks, jars,strains, stresses,

etc., exerted thereon by the arm due to the closing tendency of the doorwhen subjected to gusts of wind, drafts, etc.

To unlatch the door, it is only necessary for the operator to pulldownwardly on the chain 28 thereby raising the outer end of theunlatching bar 27 to engage the latching portion of the latch plateraising such latch plate until the upper edge of its opening is slightlyabove the top of the arm portion 24 whereby the arm may be slid throughboth the latch and keeper openings for movement of the door to itsclosed position.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I show another form of gravity-operated latch membersupported by the keeper. In this form, the arm 37 and unlatching bar 38are of substantially the same construction as the corresponding parts ofthe previously-described structure. The general formlofethekeeper 39 isalso the same, which keeper is provided with an opening 40 in itsvertical web through which the arm slides. The horizontal web of thiskeeper is provided, nearits free end, with a pair of dependingcars 41which are, preferably, struck from the material of the keeper; butwhich, if desired, may be separately formed and-secured to the keeper.The latch member 42 takes a U-shape with the outer ends of its U-armpivotally secured as at 43 to the depending ears 41 so that its U-baseportion 42 always tends to fall downwardly by gravity. hen the door isin its closed position this latch member is held raised by the top ofthe U-arm and as the door moves into its fully open position, the U-baseportion 42 of this In Figs. 10, 11 and 12 I have shown another form ofkeeper 46 which supports a latch plate 47 which is constructed similarlyto the latch plate 33. In this particularstructure, I provide positivemeans tending at all tunes to move the latch plate into its latchingpos1- tion. Specifically, the latch plate 47 is mounted upon thevertical leg of the keeper by meansof headed pins 48, 49, the formerbeing secured to the plate and sliding through an elongated slot 50 inthe keeper and the latter being secured to the keeper and passingthrough an elongated slot 51 in the latch plate. This arran ementspermits of vertical reciprocation of the latch plate 47 bysuitablehook-like pins 52, near its lower part, and similar pins 53project rearwardly from the plate-fastening pins 48, and these pins aredoor is moved to its full open position the vided latch plate will besnapped into and held yieldably in (by spring 54-) the latching notch atthe end of the arm.- Means similar to that described in connection withthe previous forms may also be employed for raising the latch plate -17in opposition to the spring 54for releasing the arm to close the door. 7

By reference to Fig. 12, it'will be noted that the vertical web or legof the keeper is provith substantially parallel, vertical ribs 55 whichprovide in the rear of the keep er vertical inset spaces 56. I utilizethese spaces for mounting the pins 48, 49 and spring 54 so as to sheltersuch structure from the weather and to prevent the same from beingaccidentally moved or injured. This same general vertical rib structureis, preferably, used in the forms previously described and such ribsserve to materially strengthen the vertical web of the keeper so as tobetter withstand the opening and closing stresses applied to the samethrough the door-holding arm. I V

lVhile I have shown only three forms of structure embodying myinvention, other changes in details and arrangement of parts may be madewithout departing from thespirit and scope of my invention as defined bythe claims which follow. I claim:

1. A door holder which comprises a keepe" having an opening and adaptedto be supported by the door frame, an arm slidably mounted in saidkeeper opening and adapted to be swingably secured to the door, agravity-operatcd latch member adjustably supported by said keeper andhaving a part movable back and forth over said opening, the end of saidarm ha ng a square-faced notch in which sa d part is aired andpositively retained when the door is opened, and a member supported bysaid arm ard ndependently operable to engage said to more the latter outof said notch to permit said arm to lslide through said keeper openingto close the door.

2. A door holder which comprises a keeper having vertical and horizontalweb portions with an opening in its vertical web and havling itshorizontal web adapted to be secured to the door frame, an arm looselyand slid ably mounted in said keeper opening adapted to be swingablysecured to the door for horizontal swinging movement, a latch Imembersupported by said keeper for movement back and forth said opening, theupper end surface of said arm having a substantially square-walled notchin which said latch member is received and retained against self-releasewhen the door is opened, and a bar member pivotally supported by saidarm and positively movable in one direction to engage said latch memberto move the latter out of said notch to permit said arm to slide throughsaid keeper opening to close the door.

3. A door holder which comprises a keeper having a vertical web withanopening and adapted to be stationarily supported by the door frame, anarm slidably supported in said keeper opening and adapted to be swingably supported atone end by the door, a gravity-operated latch membersupported by said vertical keeper web for movement back and forth overthe upper end of said keeper opening, an unlatchin member supported bysaid arm and having an end part engageable with said latch member, saidarm'at its free end having anotch into which said latch member fallswhen said arm is moved to a door-open position, and means for operatingsaid unlatching memberto move said latch member out of said notch topermit closing movement of the door.

l. A door holder which comprises a'keeper having a vertical web with anopening and also having a horizontal web adapted to be stationarilysupported by the door frame, an arm slidably supported in said keeperopening and adapted to be swingably supported one end bythe door, agravity-operated latch meml or supported by said vertical keeper web-formovement back and forth over the upper end of said keeper opening, anunlatching bar pivotally supported by said arm and. having an end partengageable with said latch member, said arm at its upper free endportion having a retaining notch intowhich said latohmemoer moves whensaid arm is moved to a door-open position,

and means for operating said unlatching member to engage its end partwith said latch member to move said latch member out of said notch topermit closing movement of the door.

5. A door holder which comprises a keeper having a vertical web with anopening and adapted to be stationarily supported by the door frame, anarm slidably supported in said keeper opening and adapted to beswingably supported at one end by the door, alatch plate shapedsimilarly to said vertical web and having an opening of substantiallythe size of said keeper opening, elongated slots in said latch plate,means carried by said vertical web and engaging said slots forreciprocably supporting said latch plate on over the upper end of arm atits upper free end having a substantially deep notch in which said partof said latch plate is adapted to be received when said arm is moved toits open position, and unlatching means carried by said arm engagingsaid latch plate to move the latter out of said notch to release saidarm.

6. A door holder which comprises a keeper having a vertical web with anopening an normally holding said latch plate in a posi-" tion wherein-itis over said keeper opening and in said notch, and means carried by saidarm and adapted to engage said plate to move, it out of said notch inopposition to said spring to release said arm, to permit the latter toslide through said keeper opening to a door-closed position.

7. A door holder which comprises a keeper having a vertical web with anopening and adapted to be stationarily supported by the door frame, anarm slidably supported in said keeper opening and adapted to beswingably supported at one end by the door,

a latch plate reciprocably supported by said keeper with a part thereofadapted to slide.

vertically back and forth over the top of said keeper opening, said armat its upper free end portion having a notch in which said plate part isreceived when said arm is in its dooropen position, spring means fornormally holding said latch plate in a lowered position wherein saidpart is over said keeper opening and in its notch-engaging position, anda member swingably carried by said arm and adapted to engage said platepart to move it out of said notch in opposition to said spring torelease said arm, to permit it to slide through said keeper opening to adoor-closed position.

8. A door holder which comprises a keeper having a vertical web with anopening and adapted to be stationarily supported by the door frame, anarm slidably supported in said keeper opening and adapted to beswingably supported at one end by the door, said vertical web havinglaterally-spaced vertical ribs providing on its rear face inset verticalspaces or grooves, a latch plat-e approximating the shape of saidvertical web mounted on the front face of the latter, said plate havingan opening corresponding to the keeper opening, said vertical web havingelongated slots in the upper ends of said ribs and said latch platehaving elongated slots in its lower portion adjacent said vertical ribs,members carried by said plate and engaging said Web slots and memberscarried by said web and engaging said plate slots for reciprocablymounting said plate on said web, said arm having a notch in its upper,free end portion into which the portion of said plate above its openingmoves when said arm is moved to its door-open position, spring meanslocated in said vertical rib spaces for holding said plate yieldably inits notch-engaging position, and means for moving said plate todisengage it from said notch to permit closing of the door.

9. In structure of the class described, a keeper having a vertical webwith an opening adapted to receive and support a door arm, said web onopposite sides of said opening having vertical ribs pressed therefrom, alatch. plate shapedsimilarly to said web and having ribs correspondingto said web ribs, and means for reciprocably supporting said plate onsaid web withtheir respective ribs in nested relation.

10. In structure of the class described, a keeper having a vertical webwith an opening adapted to receive and support a door arm, said web onopposite sides of said opening having vertical ribs pressed therefrom, alatch plate shaped similarly to said web and having ribs correspondingto said web ribs, means for reciprocably supporting said plate on saidweb with their respective ribs in nested relation, and spring meansmounted in the spaces provided by said web ribs for yieldably holdingsaid latch plate in its lowermost-reciprocable position.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

' LOUIS A. BITTORF.

